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Yahoo! is taking a leaf out of Netflix and Amazon's books and beefing up its media offerings with six original TV shows, including one about a bite-sized private detective. It has also partnered up with pro-wrestling outfit WWE in a bid to lure in internet TV watchers.

Just a week after bagging the exclusive rights to stream Saturday Night Live clips, the one-time web giant is continuing its march on telly with three original comedy programmes and three lifestyle shows.

Tech firms are increasingly interested in internet television as the next potential big thing to slap their brand on, whether it's in actual hardware boxes or media content.

Both Netflix and Amazon have started commissioning their own programming, the former scoring highly with Kevin Spacey-starring series House of Cards and a revival of cult comedy Arrested Development. Amazon is rumoured to have a set-top box in the pipeline and has auditioned a number of pilots - asking users to vote on which should be turned into a full original series.

Yahoo! is following suit with three shows coming in autumn (or fall, if you're across the pond) this year: Tiny Commando, about "a four-inch-tall private investigator who uses his awesome fleet of vehicles to fight crime", with The Hangover actor Ed Helms in the starring role; personal assistant comedy We Need Help; and Losing Your Virginity with John Stamos, in which the actor interviews celebs about their fateful first fumbles.

The ailing firm is also cobbling together three lifestyle shows for "later this year": Fashion Recipe, Cinema & Spice and Grill Girls.

As well as the new shows, Yahoo! is going to be the "premier global video distribution partner" for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from the summer, with a dedicated hub for all its WWE content.

The new shows aren't Yahoo!'s first stab at original programming, but they'll be joining a raft of new shows scheduled for this year as the company tries a number of avenues to boost its offerings to the masses. ®